April 24 2012 Graduation tiles, see p. 5
Presorted Standard US Postage PAID Liberal, KS Permit NO.114
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Year 42, No. 11
Liberal, Kansas
Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo
Volunteer Bryan Matzek distributes food and water to the workers helping clean up after the tornado struck Woodward Okla. earlier this month.
Jim Kirkland prepares the food that will be handed out to the people in Woodward in side the concession truck.
Tornadoes prompt action from Power of 3 servers Hei dy Mol i na Editor After the tornado devastated the town of Joplin, Mo., in May 2011, Jim Kirkland wanted to do something to help the people and workers in the aftermath of the storm. Kirkland, a current student in the corrosion technology program at the Area Technical School, looks back on the decisions from that time that have changed his life. He went to his pastor, searching for a way to help. “I wish I had a way to give back and help
these people,” Kirkland told his preacher, Larry Watson of the First Christian Church of Texhoma.Watson responded by telling Kirkland that the Bible says to use our strengths and asking Kirkland what he was good at doing. “Well, I can cook barbecue,” said Kirkland, who, along with his wife Adrienne owns Duke’s BBQ and Catering. With that idea in mind, Kirkland, along with Watson, began the Power of Three. The purpose of the Power of Three is to serve 1,000 meals a
day three times a day for three days and three weekends to the people who are affected by a disaster and the workers who help clean up the damage. The Power of Three uses the Bible verse “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV)”. The strands in this organization include Kirkland, Watson, and other volunteers. “The Power of Three came from utilizing our strengths,” Kirkland said. According to Kirk-
land, the Power of Three is made possible not only by the people who volunteer, but also by the contributers. Kirkland stresses that the Power of Three goes in to help distribute food but never expects contributions from victims or workers. If others are interested in contributing, they can go to http://www.powerx3.org. Kirkland and Power of Three recently mobilized again after the tornado that occurred in Woodward, Okla. When the tornado hit Woodward April 14, Kirkland said that he knew that they were going to help out. “It’s close
enough to home; we’re two hours away,” he said. “ We’re going to go help.” “We felt like there was a need in Woodward. That’s why we activated,” Kirkland said. On the first day they were there, the group served more than 600 sandwiches. According to Kirkland, the difference between the tornadoes was “just the shear size.” When the Power of Three arrived in Woodward they were amazed to see how the people just stepped up to clean up the damage.
Kirkland would like to see the Power of Three be a lifelong mission that could be activated where ever they are needed as a collaborative group. “We don’t really help with the rebuilding,” Kirkland said. “We like to help the first responders.” Kirkland wants the people who help during the time of disaster to know that Power of Three is on board to help them even as they help others in disaster situations. Kirkland is originally from Keyes, Okla., but currently lives in Texhoma with his wife and child.
Reed to retire after 29-year career at SC
1969
Roles of Dale Reed Through the Years
Graduates with the first graduating class at SCCJC.
1983
1971
Arrives in Liberal to attend SCCJC and play basketball
2012
1999-2003
Returns to SCCC as the Saints head men’s basketball coach for 13 years Serves as Liberal city commissioner and mayor
Announces plans for early retirement as dean of outreach
Dale Reed has been connected to Seward County Community College for much of his adult life, from a college freshman who played basketball to a retiring dean of outreach. This month, Reed, who has worked for the college since 1983, announced his early retirement, and the Board of Trustees expressed their thanks to him for his nearly three decades of work. “Dale has a great history and passion for SCCC/ATS and will be missed,” said Dr. Duane Dunn, college president. “He’s well known with our area high schools and his work with business and industry has developed a lot of contacts for us for customized training and industry programs.” Reed arrived at Seward from his hometown of Little River in 1969 to play on the first-ever basketball team of a new college known as Seward County Community Junior College. Since then, he has seen a series of firsts, including being a member of the first graduating class in 1971. He was the first one to suggest the college mascot should be the Saints. He has, in fact, been an active participant in building the history of the college. “His college experience has started and progressed with our college,” Dunn said. “When someone with that history and experience leaves it creates a void that can’t be replaced.” After graduating, he pursued a career in coaching at the high school level, and remained in basketball until 1983. In 1983, he became head men’s basketball coach for his alma mater SCCC, a position he held for 13 years. He became the business and industry director in 1996. Later he served as business and industry coordinator and associate dean of educational services. He is currently the dean of outreach. “Dale’s retirement is a loss for the college but I’m happy for him that he’s able to spend time with his family,” Dunn said.
Crusader photo/Jose Medrano
Inductees unveil the Saints Athletic Hall of Fame before the athletic banquet on April 20. There were a total of five inductees to the hall of fame. For more photos see page 7.
Legends return to unveil hall of fame Jose Medrano Crusader staff SCCC hosted the annual athletics banquet in the Green House on April 20. This year the Athletics Hall of Fame was unveiled. The banquet began with an unveiling of the wall. There were five inductees in the first class of the Hall of Fame: the 2002 Lady Saints Basketball team, Lady Saints basketball Head Coach Jim Littell, Saints baseball player Cory Patton, Lady Saints basketball player Kim Ortega, and Saints baseball Head Coach Galen McSpadden. After the unveiling, the awards ceremony began. Current SCCC athletes, booster club members, fans, board members and hall of fame inductees attended the ceremony. Athletes received awards for their work in both academics and athletics. The Saints cheer and dance teams, as well as the athletic trainers and the Saints volleyball team, received recognition for their work this past year. Lady Saints basketball player
Kayla Thomas was awarded the Talbert Award teammates. Saints baseball player Sam Pack was awarded the Johnstone Award by his teammates. Saints basketball player Deverell Biggs received recognition for his NJCAA All-America award. Coaches announced where some players would be heading to continue their college career. Lady Saints volleyball player Courtney Geesing will be playing for Southern Arkansas University next year. Lady Saints basketball player Kelsey Wilson will be heading to the University of Texas-Arlington. Biggs will be playing for the University of Nebraska next season. During the ceremony, basketball Head Coach Bryan Zollinger received a “Hard Hat” award from journalist Earl Watt for his achievements with the Saints basketball program. Zollinger was named KBCA Coach of the Year earlier this month. The nominees for the W.A.
Shuffleburg academic award were announced. Lady Saints nominated for the Shuffleburg Award are: basketball player Kayla Thompson, volleyball player Courtney Geesing and volleyball player Daiane Souza. Saints nominated for the Shuffleburg Award are baseball player Sam Pack, tennis player Felipe Cruz and tennis player Lucas Izkovitz. The Shuffleburg award will be awarded after the end of the semester. After the awards, the Hall of Fame inductees: Cory Patton, the ’02 Lady Saints, Jim Littell, Kim Ortega, and Galen McSpadden gave speeches. The inductees also received awards for their accomplishments. “We’re really proud of all of our athletes,” McSpadden said to the audience during his speech. McSpadden has been at Seward for over three decades. Under McSpadden, the Saints have won 14 Jayhawk West conference titles and have won more than 1,000 games. Kim Ortega is part of the 2002 Lady Saints Basketball team have won the NJCAA champi-
Crusader photo/ Jose Medrano
Sam Pack, sophomore, receives the Johnstone Award from head baseball coach Galen McSpadden.
onship. Ortega is also the most decorated Lady Saint in SCCC athletics. “I’ve never be so honored to be a part of something so special,” Ortega said. The Seward Athletics Hall of Fame display wall is located next to the Athletic offices, in front of the concessions stand. Plaques are mounted on the Hall of Fame for each of the inductees.